The Letter vs. The Spirit: Understanding Liceity and Validity

There is great confusion about liceity versus validity in the Church today, because many people have a superficial understanding of legal and moral obligations. One can receive a sacrament validly, meaning the sacrament is real and truly takes place, but it may be contrary to the law in that particular circumstance. It is also possible that a higher law takes precedence over a lesser, so that one must dispense with the obligation of one law in view of another. This is especially true when one sees a good law that, due to circumstances, is working unto evil. In a situation such as this, the principle of Epikeia is employed, because ultimately “the salvation of souls is the supreme law.”